Life's Highway - The Randy Helms Express

Well Monday started off bad. I went to work and found out I am on orders to leave San Antonio NLT April 2007. The place I am on orders to is Ft Hood, in Killeen, TX. Here is the deal about Ft Hood, they constantly rotate people in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. The writhing is truly on the wall that by reporting there in APR, I would probably be deployed NLT the end of the year. I DO NOT WANT THAT. I was not suppose to leave yet. I am trying to get this corrected. According to what I have read, because I spent the last year deployed, I am suppose to be stabilized for a year. That means I do not move. Also because I was on a Transistion Team, I should be able to choose or request my next assignment, within reason.

This hit like a bomb in the Helms household. So really keep my and my family in your prayers. We are not ready for this and I hope it works itself out. Ft Hood is one of the last places I would ever want to go. I can see what will happen and it's not good. Once you get there, it is very hard to leave. Since I only have about five years and some change until retirement, they will try to keep me there. Plus there is nothing and I mean nothing in Killeen. Isabel and the boys would be miserable, if I did deploy.

Thanks for the support,

Randy

Posted by Randy at 5:09 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well the ice melted and life got back to normal here. Caelan is doing real good in school. He continues to get high marks and stars everyday. He enjoys going everyday. Ryleigh has been a little cranky the last week or so. Not sure what is bothering him, but he has not been himself. Hopefully he snaps out of it. Isabel is doing well. She continues to train for her half marathon in FEB. She has come a long way since I left for Iraq. I am so proud of her. I have started back at work now, for a week or so. Not to thrilled, because I don't have a clue what they do. I guess once I get my finger on it, maybe it will be better.

We hope to start doing some family outings on the weekends. The rodeo is in town in FEB and we are talking about going to see that. I am sure the boys will love the animals. Ole Caelan is still crazy about airplanes. Every time he sees an Air Force person in their brown leather jacket, he must go up to them and ask them do they fly planes. Whether they say yes or no, he always replies that he is future pilot and astronaut.

Later,

Randy

Posted by Randy at 9:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

Well San Antonio got hit with an Artic Blast today. I awoke to a really cold and icy morning. I was called by my noncommissioned Officer in charge (NCOIC) to tell me I do not need to report to work until 1200, because the roads are iced over. Caelan is out of school today, because of the weather. Isabel and I did not find out all of this information till after we had already been up for about an hour and already to go basically. Even Bailey did not want to stay outside long. I guess his paws were slipping on the street.

Last night we had a small leak downstairs. I can only assume that it is from all the rain the last three days, and there must be a small hole on the roof. I will have to call the realtor and have him get someone out here to fix it. Isabel heard the leak last night. I am glad she did, because I did not. So I put up a bucket before we went to bed. When I got up this morning, the rain had stopped and so had the leak.

Caelan went to the jumpy castle place in the mall yesterday. I took him to let Isabel have a little break from him. Ryleigh did not go, because he was sleeping. Ryleigh stayed awake all night Sunday night/Monday morning. I tried numerous times to get him to sleep, but to no avail. So I stayed up with him.

The picture is from the local newspaper online. It was from a still camera on I-10. It appears that there is ice on the lens. Now that is cold.

Take it easy,

Randy

Posted by Randy at 5:53 AM | Permalink | Comments

I have decided to continue the blog, but call it by another name. This blog will follow my life as it unfolds in Converse, TX. I will of course talk about Isabel, Caelan, and Ryleigh. I will also put forth some of my own beliefs on current events. For those of you who read my blog while I was in Iraq, this might be a little bit different then that one. It will be more family focused.

Caelan brought home his report card on Friday. He did very well for the last nine weeks. He was able to identify 52 out of 54 letters shown to him. He also was able to count to 59 straight before he made a mistake. They showed him signs of business and he got all of them right except a Target and some other store. Isabel and I are so proud of him.

See ya,

Randy

Posted by Randy at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments

Well I have been home now for about 9 or 10 days. I have really relaxed and caught up on a lot of sleep. My mother has been here, and she has been cooking some really good food for me. Isabel, Caelan, Ryleigh and Bailey return from Holland tonight. Looking forward to seeing them. It's hard to decide who to grab first. I have enclosed a picture to let you see what the last year has done to me. If you look closely you will see the gray scattered through my hair. Tuff get old. Also check out how long them sideburns are. Been a long time since anyone has seen me with this much hair.

Love ya all and it has been my pleasure to write this blog for the last year.

Randahl James Helms

Posted by Randy at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments